Ultrasonographic Measurements of Fetlock Joint Tendons and Ligaments Dimensions in Sound Darehshori Horses

Tendons and ligaments in the palmar/plantar aspect of fetlock joints are always exposed to injuries resulting from traumas and diseases of limbs. Ultrasound has wide extensive use in the diagnosis and measurement of equine soft tissues and musculoskeletal injuries in horses. The purpose of the current research is to measure and comparison of the fetlock joint tendons and ligaments dimensions in the front and hind limbs of sound Darehshori horses. This study consisted of ten healthy Darehshori horses whose mean age and height of them were 11.2 ± 3.5 years and 151.6 ± 10.2 cm. After clipping and washing, the area between 4 cm above the proximal sesamoid bones and distal to the level of the proximal sesamoid bones was divided into 2 levels in sagittal and 3 levels in transverse view. Ultrasonography was performed with a linear transducer 12 MHz Frequency on both front and hind limbs in full weight bearing. Measurements of tendons and ligaments such as the superficial digital flexor tendon, deep digital flexor tendon, and suspensory ligament were done in both sagittal and transverse view. Transverse ultrasonography was made to get the measurements such as thickness, width, and cross-sectional area of tendons and ligaments. Echogenicity and fibrillary pattern of tendons and ligaments were assessed in longitudinal images. In the front and hind limbs, the greatest width of digital flexor tendons and suspensory ligament was related to the front joints while the greatest thickness was related to the digital flexor tendons and suspensory ligament in the hind joints. As the results in the present study revealed, no significant differences were found between the amounts of the left and right front and hind limbs of sound Darehshori horses. In conclusion, this study provides thorough, in-depth knowledge of the normal ultrasound measurements of the tendon and ligaments in the fetlock joints.